Jump to content

Cybernat

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jmorrison230582 (talk | contribs) at 17:04, 5 June 2014 (Reverted good faith edits by 86.138.32.40 (talk): Unsourced pov. (TW)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Cybernat is a term used in the media of the United Kingdom to refer pejoratively to online supporters of Scottish independence.[1][2]

The term was apparently coined by Lord Foulkes[1][3] and was used by Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray in 2009.[4] It gained greater prominence during 2013, after mainstream media sources reported that Sir Chris Hoy had been subject to online abuse for expressing his support for unionism in Scotland.[5][6]

The Scottish edition of the Daily Mail undertook a campaign in January 2014 to "unmask" Cybernats.[7] The Daily Telegraph reported in March 2014 that a retired soldier had received some abusive messages from Cybernats, after SNP politician Roseanna Cunningham posted a message on Twitter showing a letter from the soldier asking for donations to Better Together.[8]

The Herald stated in February 2013 that: "The problem is not limited to the nationalist side of the referendum debate, with the SNP complaining of Unionist "unitrolls" spreading online abuse."[9] It also reported that the Yes Scotland campaign would monitor blog sites and Twitter in an attempt to police offensive comments by supporters of independence.[9] In April 2014, SNP MSP David Torrance was physically attacked in a bar in Fife by someone opposed to independence.[10] SNP leader Alex Salmond and deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon have been subjected to death threats.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Cybernats and cyberbrits: How do they affect mainstream political debate?". www.news.stv.tv. STV. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  2. ^ Cochrane, Alan (7 March 2012). "Welcome to planet Cybernat where the air is toxic". The Daily Telegraph.
  3. ^ "Labour MP calls for independence supporters to be barred from debates". www.glawest.org. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Parties demand Salmond holds blog smear inquiry". BBC News. BBC. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2014. Back in May I asked Alex Salmond to get a grip of these 'cyber nats' bloggers
  5. ^ "Geek, twerking & cybernat among words of the year". The Scotsman. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  6. ^ "cybernat: New Word Suggestion". www.collinsdictionary.com. Collins. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Cybernats unmasked: Meet the footsoldiers of pro-Scottish independence 'army' whose online poison shames the Nationalists". Daily Mail. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  8. ^ Johnson, Simon (6 March 2014). "General accuses SNP minister of endangering his family after 'Cybernat' attack". Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  9. ^ a b Gardham, Magnus (2 February 2013). "Yes campaigners launch bid to silence cybernats". The Herald. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  10. ^ a b Hirst, Mark (7 May 2014). "UK Member of Parliament Repeats Call To 'Bayonet' Scottish Independence Supporters". RIA Novosti. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  11. ^ "Man who made threats to Alex Salmond jailed". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Cybernat&oldid=611704412"